Applicator



y 19, 4 a. F. CLAYPOOL 3,133,308

APPLICATOR Filed March 29, 1962 INVENTOR.

G/enn f. CVqypoo/ BY g r United States Patent Office 3,133,308 PatentedMay 19, 1964 3,133,308 APPLICATOR Glenn F. Claypool, Oak Park, Ill.,assiguor to The House for Men, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,579 2 Claims. (Cl. -565) Thisinvention pertains to an applicator which is particularly designed forthe application of pre-shave lotions to the skin preparatory to the useof an electric shaver. Such lotions are used to condition a heard foroperation thereon by the rapidly moving cutter blades in the shaver andusually combine an astringent and lubricating action which make theshaver operate more efliciently, and at the same time leaves the skin ofthe user in an antiseptic condition.

In order to attain these results, it is desirable that the lotion beevenly applied over the surface to be shaved. Heretofore, thisapplication has usually been effected by spreading the liquid over theskin by the fingers of the user. This has required subsequent handwashing operations, thus preventing convenient use of pre-shave lotionsin automobiles or other places which do not have washing facilities, butwhere the electric razor, which does not require such facilities,conveniently may be used.

It is an object therefore of the present invention to provide anapplicator which forms a part of the closure of the container forliquids and which may be conveniently used in application of thecontained liquid without such liquid contacting the hands of the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an applicatorwhich includes resilient absorbent means for holding the liquid to beapplied during the application procedure and which also includes adistributing means in liquid transfer contact with said absorbent meansfor applying said liquid to the surface to be treated.

It is also an object of this invention to provide removable meanswhereby the applicator may be rendered ineffective so that liquid withinthe container will not escape therefrom when the applicator is not inuse as for example, when traveling.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a container for liquids equipped with theapplicator of this invention with the removable cap member in use.

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in sections showing the applicator of thisinvention as applied to the liquid container, such as a bottle, designedto contain pre-shave 10- tion or other liquids.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the present perforated cap, withvelvet-like fabric applicator, the resilient porous sponge-like memberand a securing ring for holding such parts in association with thecontainer cap.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates a bottle or a similar container forliquids which is provided with an externally threaded neck portion 10adapted to threadedly recive a metal cap 11 the end of which is providedwith a plurality of portions 11a through which the liquid may bedischarged from the container or bottle 10.

Engaging the cap 11 outside of the perforations 11a is a sponge-likemember 12 which is preferably made of resilient sponge rubber or plasticcomposition, and which has a depending portion 12a extending downwardlyalongside the outer wall of the cap 11 for a purpose to be describedhereinafter.

Tightly engaged with the outer surface of the porous resilient member 12is a velvet-like applicator fabric 13 which is in liquid transfercontact with said porous resilient member and which has a dependingportion 13a extending downwardly around the neck of the cap 11 outsideof the depending portion 12a.

The resilient porous member 12 and the applicator fabric 13 are held inpermanent association with the cap 11 by a band 14 of metal which isforced downwardly and which is of such internal diameter as to compressthe depending portions 12a and 13a into engagement with the wall of thecap 11, and thus hold such parts in firm association with the cap.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the cap 11 with the porous resilientmember 12. and the outer applicator fabric 13 is secured in removableassociation with the container 10 due to screw-threaded relationshipbetween the cap and the neck 10a of said container. In order to preventliquid from escaping from the container when the applicator is not inuse, the cup-like member 15 having a flange 15a engaging the end of theneck 10a of the container may be removably positioned between thecontainer and the cap held in liquid sealing relationship by screwingthe cap down so that the inner face thereof engages said flang 15a. Tofacilitate this sealing, the inner face of the cap 11 may be providedwith an annulus washer 11b of plastic or similar material which contactsthe flange 15a when the cap is screwed down. When it is desired to usethe applicator, the cap is unscrewed, the member 15 removed, andwhereupon liquid may be removed through the perforations 11a, as forexample by shaking the container so that the liquid flows through thoseperforations and is absorbed by the porous resilient member 12. Sincethe resilient member 12 is in liquid transfer relationship with theappliactor fabric 13, the latter becomes uniformly moistened with theliquid, and when the applicator fabric 13 is rubbed over the skin,contents of the container 10 are evenly applied to the skin thereby.

The resilient porous member 12 performs an important function. By beingresilient, it permits movement of the applicator fabric so that liquidis evenly applied. By affording a temporary storage for the liquiddischarged from the container through the perforations 11a (as forexample, by shaking the container) excess application of liquid isprevented, and at the same time means are provided whereby theapplicator fabric 13 is kept uniformly moist.

For purposes of appearance, the entire cap and applicator assembly maybe covered when not in use by a removable cup-like cap member 16 whichis provided with notched internal ribs 16a that engage the band 14 ofthe container or the outside of the applicator cap or both. Thiscup-like member 16 also serves the function of preventing undesiredcontact of the moist applicator fabric with adjacent objects, such forexample, when the container and its applicator are placed in a travelingbag after use. It is understood, of course, that before being put awaythe member 15 would be replaced in sealing position as shown in FIGURE1.

It will be understood from the foregoing that this invention provides anapplicator whereby fluids such for example as pre-electric shavinglotion readily may be applied to the skin without coming in contact inany way with the hands of the user. Furthermore, by providing theresilient porous member 12 the applicator fabric is uniformly moistenedand a smooth and even application of the liquid to the skin is assured.

While I have shown and described the embodiment of this invention asparticularly designed for use in connection with the applicaton ofpre-shave lotion, it is understood that this applicator may have manyother uses, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the scope of thepatent granted hereon otherwise than by the structure defined in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an applicator for liquid,

a container having a screw-threaded neck portion defining an opening,

a one-piece cup-shaped cap of essentially uniform thickness having anaxial side wall having a radially inwardly bulged spiral rib comprisinga screw thread threadingly engaged with an outside annular wall of saidscrew-threaded neck portion and having a perforated cup bottom overlyingsaid neck portion through which liquid may be removed from thecontainer,

the radially inwardly bulged spiral rib also defining a radiallyoutwardly opening spiral-shaped groove,

a porous resilient sponge-like member engaging the cap outside theperforations for receiving liquid passing therethrough and having afirst depending portion extending over the outer wall of the cap and inlapped engagement over said spiral shaped-groove, a velvetlikeapplicator fabric engaging the outer surface of said porous resilientmember in liquid transfer relationship thereto,

removable liquid retaining cup-like member being telescoped into saidneck portion and having a flange portion engaged in supporting relationon an upper end of said neck portion and with said cup-like member beingpositioned between the cap and the end of the container neck portion toprevent escape of liquid through said perforations,

said applicator fabric also having a depending portion extending overthe outer wall of the cap in lapped relation over said spiral-shapedgroove outside of said first depending portion,

circular band in frictional engagement with said depending portionsholding the said resilient member and said applicator fabric snuglyagainst said axial side wall of said cap over said spiral-shaped groovein unitary assembly therewith, and

a removable cup-like cap member telescoped over said applicator fabricand having snap means securing the same in detachable assembly over saidapplicator fabric.

2. The applicator of claim 1 further characterized by said snap meanscomprising notched internal ribs detachably engaged with said bandsecuring said cap member in assembly therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN AN APPLICATOR FOR LIQUID, A CONTAINER HAVING A SCREW-THREADED NECKPORTION DEFINING AN OPENING, A ONE-PIECE CUP-SHAPED CAP OF ESSSENTIALLYUNIFORM THICKNESS HAVING AN AXIAL SIDE WALL HAVING A RADIALLY INWARDLYBULGED SPIRAL RIB COMPRISING A SCREW THREAD THREADINGLY ENGAGED WITH ANOUTSIDE ANNULAR WALL OF SAID SCREW-THREADED NECK PORITON AND HAVING APERFORATED CUP BOTTOM OVERLYING SAID NECK PORTION THROUGH WHICH LIQUIDMAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONTAINER, THE RADIALLY INWARDLY BULGED SPIRALRIB ALSO DEFINING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING SPIRAL-SHAPED GROOVE, APOROUS RESILIENT SPONGE-LIKE MEMBER ENGAGING THE CAP OUTSIDE THEPERFORATIONS FOR RECEIVING LIQUID PASSING THERETHROUGH AND HAVING AFIRST DEPENDING PORTION EXTENDING OVER THE OUTER WALL OF THE CAP AND INLAPPED ENGAGEMENT OVER SAID SPIRAL SHAPED-GROOVE, A VELVETLIKEAPPLICATOR FABRIC ENGAGING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID POROUS RESILIENTMEMBER IN LIQUID TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP THERETO, A REMOVABLE LIQUIDRETAINING CUP-LIKE MEMBER BEING TELESCOPED INTO SAID NECK PORTION ANDHAVING A FLANGE PORTION ENGAGED IN SUPPORTING RELATION ON AN UPPER ENDOF SAID NECK PORTION AND WITH SAID CUP-LIKE MEMBER BEING POSITIONEDBETWEEN THE CAP AND THE END OF THE CONTAINER NECK PORTION TO PREVENTESCAPE OF LIQUID THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS, SAID APPLICATOR FABRIC ALSOHAVING A DEPENDING PORTION EXTENDING OVER THE OUTER WALL OF THE CAP INLAPPED RELATION OVER SAID SPIRAL-SHAPED GROOVE OUTSIDE OF SAID FIRSTDEPENDING PORTION, A CIRCULAR BAND IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDDEPENDING PORTIONS HOLDING THE SAID RESILIENT MEMBER AND SAID APPLICATORFABRIC SNUGLY AGAINST SAID AXIAL SIDE WALL OF SAID CAP OVER SAIDSPIRAL-SHAPED GROOVE IN UNITARY ASSEMBLY THEREWITH, SAID A REMOVABLECUP-LIKE CAP MEMBER TELESCOPED OVER SAID APPLICATOR FABRIC AND HAVINGSNAP MEANS SECURING THE SAME IN DETACHABLE ASSEMBLY OVER SAID APPLICATORFABRIC.